This calculator estimates your Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)—a tax credit that can reduce what you owe or increase your tax refund. It's free to apply, and only the IRS decides if you qualify.
What this calculator does
The calculator takes information about your income, family size, and filing status for a specific tax year and estimates the size of your EITC. Your actual credit may be different when you file your tax return, since the IRS will verify your information.
What you'll need to tell us
The calculator asks for these details:
- Tax year: Which year you're filing taxes for. The EITC rules and maximum credits change each year.
- Filing status: Single, married filing jointly, head of household, or another status.
- Qualifying children: How many children you claim who meet the EITC rules. (The credit is larger with more children, up to a point.)
- Earned income: Wages from a job, or self-employment income. The credit is only for people with earned income.
- Adjusted gross income (AGI): Your total income minus certain deductions. This appears on your tax return.
- Investment income: Interest, dividends, and similar income. The EITC has limits on how much investment income you can have.
- Your age: Only asked if you have no qualifying children. You must be 25 to 64 to claim the EITC without children.
Why each piece of information matters
Earned income: The EITC is tied to work. The more you earn (up to a limit), the bigger your credit—until you reach a peak amount. After that, the credit shrinks as income rises.
Number of children: The EITC is much larger if you have qualifying children. With no children, the maximum credit is smaller and only available if you're between 25 and 64 years old.
Investment income: If your investment income is more than $11,950 for tax year 2025, you don't qualify for the EITC, even if your earned income is low. This rule prevents high-wealth individuals from claiming the credit.
Filing status and AGI: These affect when your credit starts to shrink. For example, married couples filing jointly have higher income limits before the credit phases out.
Key figures for tax year 2025
Here are the maximum credits by number of children:
- No qualifying children: Maximum credit of $649. You must be 25 to 64 years old and have earned income.
- One qualifying child: Maximum credit of $4,328.
- Two qualifying children: Maximum credit of $7,152.
- Three or more qualifying children: Maximum credit of $8,046.
You also cannot have more than $11,950 in investment income.
How to read your estimate
The calculator will show you an estimated credit amount. If that number is positive, it means the IRS may give you that amount as a refund or reduce your tax bill by that much (if you owe). If the estimate is zero, you likely don't qualify based on the information you entered.
Remember: this is an estimate. Your actual credit depends on what you report when you file your real tax return.
Limits of this calculator
This tool gives you a quick idea of whether the EITC might help and roughly how much. It doesn't:
- Verify that your children actually meet the EITC rules (such as age and relationship requirements).
- Check if you're eligible for other tax credits that might apply to you.
- Account for special situations, like if you lived outside the United States during the year.
- Replace professional tax advice or a full tax return.
What to do next
After you get your estimate, you have several options:
- Learn more about the EITC: Visit our programs page for details on who qualifies and how to claim it.
- File your taxes: You claim the EITC when you file your federal income tax return. You can file for free through the IRS, use a paid tax preparer, or hire a free tax help site.
- Check other benefits: Many people who qualify for the EITC also qualify for other help. Use our benefits screener to find out what else you might be eligible for.
- Get help: If you have questions or need help with the calculator, visit our help page.
Applying for the EITC is free—you only pay if you use a tax preparer or tax software, which is optional.